8162

Lunar Orbiter Camera Housing Prototype

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:40,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
Lunar Orbiter Camera Housing Prototype

Bidding Over

The auction is over for this lot.
The auctioneer wasn't accepting online bids for this lot.

Contact the auctioneer for information on the auction results.

Search for other lots to bid on...
Auction Date:2020 Apr 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Extraordinary lightweight prototype housing for the Lunar Orbiter's photographic subsystem, measuring approximately 32? x 26.5? x 26?, marked on the side: "Prime Contract No. NAS-1-3800, Purchase Order No. N649500-9572, Part No. 1200-100, Specification No. 1225-120, Date of Mfg. 6-66, Serial No. 2, Manufactured by Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y. U.S.A." The housing features a protrusion with two circular lens windows—a 6? window for the 24-inch high-resolution telephoto lens and a 3? window for the medium-resolution 80-mm wide angle lens—along with four external mounting feet, a purge fitting, and seven connector holes that have been covered with aluminized tape. The bottom of the housing is lined with thermal fins. Inside the housing, some of the wiring remains intact. In very good to fine condition, with general wear and scattered scuffing to exterior. The Lunar Orbiter was developed from classified Defense Department technology that was used on the first orbital spy (reconnaissance) Corona satellites.

Accompanying documentation includes:

- Bruce Elle's official spiral-bound Eastman Kodak report entitled "Photographic Subsystem Reference Handbook for the Lunar Orbiter Program," March 15, 1966, containing numerous descriptions, diagrams, and illustrations associated with the Lunar Orbiter's photographic systems. Two schematic diagrams show the housing from multiple angles, offering detailed measurements of the unit. An additional image shows the housing with its parts labeled, followed by several images of the camera that would go inside.

- A binder labeled "LOS Photos," containing 30 photographs of mock-ups of the Lunar Orbiter's internal processing equipment, the Orbiter itself, and signal processing equipment.

- Six silver gelatin photographs of Eastman Kodak mock-up models of the Lunar Orbiter's camera housing and its internals.

- A booklet published by Sky and Telescope in 1966, which folds out to show the famous first photograph of Earth taken from lunar orbit.

- A booklet entitled "Lunar Orbiter Mission A" offering details about Lunar Orbiter 1.

- Five oversized display boards, featuring affixed photographs depicting elements of the Lunar Orbiter's photographic subsystem during its build-up.